Australians vow to stick together

Mitchell Starc says the Australian side will stick together amid the fallout from an Ashes defeat that looks certain to be completed on Saturday.

Australia will start the third day of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge seven wickets down in their second innings and still 90 runs behind England, who are on the verge of a victory that will see them claim an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

The Aussies have been the subject of intense media scrutiny following their loss at Edgbaston and again after they were skittled for 60 on the opening day in Nottingham.

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The scrutiny will continue over the next two-and-a-half weeks, with a tour game in Northampton followed by the final Test at The Oval that starts on August 20.

Starc says Australia haven't thrown in the towel

Coach Darren Lehmann and captain Michael Clarke had a simple message for the squad after their day one collapse.

"It was just about sticking together," Mitchell Starc said.

"It's less than ideal, but it is what it is.

"It's a tough day and you've got to move on.

"It's just a game of cricket, they're important days but you've got to move on."

The tourists' hopes of becoming the first Australian side to win an Ashes series in England since 2001 were shattered on day one of the third and fourth Tests.

At Edgbaston, they lost 5-60 en route to being bowled out for 136 in 36.4 overs.

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At Trent Bridge it was even worse, but Starc didn't lay the blame entirely at the feet of his side's batsmen.

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"It's disappointing as a group whether it be no runs on the board or not bowling well enough," he said.

"We're sticking by each other. We probably could have bowled a little bit better yesterday.

"It's been a couple of disappointing days for us, but the sun will come up tomorrow and we'll give it another crack."

Australia's lowest Test total in England since 1902 was always going to attract stinging criticism and few sporting events impact the national psyche quite as much as the Ashes.

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Starc said he hadn't been distracted public criticism and was also unyielding when asked about the potential ramifications of the series.

"I've not been home in about five months so I wouldn't know what's going on in the papers," Starc said.

"Luckily enough I don't have to select teams and worry about that sort of thing.

"We'll get through this Test ... try to improve and try to take something out of the series."

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